Are we learning the right things in school?

The article “Rigor Redefined” by Tony Wagner is about redefining how we work.  Wagner conducted research with businesses, non profit, philanthropic, and educational leaders. He observed classrooms in some of the nation’s most highly regarded suburban schools to find our whether our “best” was, in fact, good enough for our children’s future. In most interviews he had with businesses said that the number one thing they looked for was someone who asks good questions. I think this is the most important skill because people aren’t just going to give you everything that you need to do a job; you are going to have to ask questions to understand what you have to do. “We can teach them the technical stuff, but we can’t teach them how to ask questions-how to think.” Clay parker responded. Just like in the famous play Inherit the Wind, Henry Drummond’s main point was to have man think for himself.  

            Today’s students need to master seven survival skills to thrive in the new world of work. First, Critical thinking and Problem solving. There are going to be times when you are working that a problem comes up and its something you didn’t learn in school you have to problem solve. Second, Collaboration and Leadership. Certain jobs require you to be a leader. Mike Summers said “His greatest concern was young people’s lack of leadership. Kids just out of school have an amazing lack of preparedness in general leadership skills and collaborative skills.” I think this has to do with what we learn in school. You learn strategies and numbers not critical thinking and finding your own way to do things. Third, Agility and Adaptability. In the real world you have no time to adapt. It normally takes a few days, but if you are put in a new job they want you to be able to adapt quickly. You can always learn technical stuff but adaptability is hard to teach. Most jobs require you to have those 3 things.  When Wagner sat in on an AP Chemistry class he asked a group

“What happening to your mixture?”

“Dunno,” one muttered “We must have mixed it up wrong.”

“What’s your hypothesis about what happened-why is it smoking?”

The three looked at one another and shrugged.

This shows that teachers tell us what to think and if something is right or wrong. There are sometimes when there is a right or wrong answer. In other cases the student’s might have found a new chemical reaction.

In AP U.S. Government the same thing happened the teacher said “Here let me tell you the answer to this one...” In AP English the same thing happened. The pattern is if the students don’t know the answer then let them figure it out unless you haven’t gone over it in class.

Are there Reasons for Revenge?

The article “Two men jailed for life after brutal murder in Hamilton” by anonymous. This article is about two men getting revenge on someone. Peter Burns, 41 and John Holland, 40 killed 28- year old William Downie. Downie walked away free in February of last year, after accused of assaulting Burns’ wife and daughter.  Burns and Holland chased down Downie and finally caught up to him when he tripped on a fence. There were 23 stab wounds. With one directly through the hart.

In my English class we read the short story The Cask of the Amontillado. This story was about revenge. When I read both this makes me think, can we go to far when we are mad? Is there a way we can stop this? Even though he was brutally murdered Downie was still accused of assault. It may not be true in this case but the article said he had been arrested before for assault.

            I think there is a way we can control are anger and not end up going to jail for life because we wanted revenge. I don’t think any problem should lead to someone being killed. There are ways to fix it and ways to end it.

Could we be Running out of Fuel?

The article “France taps oil reserves amid refinery blockade” by anonymous, tells that France has run out of oil that they have to use its emergency fuel. When I read this it makes me think of how the United States could run out of fuel to. France had already begun to draw down on the 30-day reserves held by the oil industry. About 1,500 petrol stations in France have run dry or are about to close. Aad Van Bohemen, head of the IEA's emergency policy division, said that reserves are constantly refilled with oil imports. What if their imports run out because they have to supply their own oil and Frances also? Bohemen goes on to say that he expected caused by panic buying. He says “people aren’t aloud to fill up jerry cans.” Some strategic oil reserves are held at an underground storage facility in the south of the country. When I read about this it makes me concerned about how far away America is from being in France’s position. Do I need to start worrying about how I use oil? If you think about it we use oil in almost anything, is there an alternative fuel source? Are there ways we can prevent this?  

A day in their shoes

In the article “Suicides Put Light on Pressures of Gay Teenagers” by Jesse McKinley tells the story of many gay teenagers. They have been bullied, tormented, and harassed by family, friends, and schoolmates.

               McKinley goes on to talk about the story of Seth Walsh. He told his mom that he was gay. She said no matter what I will always love you. But last month Seth went out into his back yard and hanged himself, unable to handle anymore taunting, bullying, and other abuse from schoolmates. It also tells the story of Tyler Clementi, who jumped of the George Washington Bridge after a date with another man, was broadcasted over the internet. These are more of the recent deaths of young teenagers; the list includes Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old from Greensburg, Ind., who hanged himself on Sept. 9 after what classmates called a constant stream of harassment against him at school. Less than two weeks later, Asher Brown, a 13-year-old from the Houston suburbs, shot himself after coming out gay. He, too, had reported being taunted at his middle school.

            These stories shock me. Who would want to live with the anchor on your shoulder that you made a person so miserable, that they had to go and kill themselves. They are just normal people; if you think that you are cool because, you made fun of a kid that was different or liked a different gender than you, put on their shoes for a day. You wouldn’t be able to take the harassment you are giving them. They are just normal people. Kids always freak out if they have a lesbian or gay teacher. Oh they’re going to hit on me; seriously it is just the same has having a male or female teacher hit on you. I’m not saying that it is ok to have any teacher hit on you in general, but there is no reason that you should freak out. There are plenty of people in this world that are lesbian or gay. They want to live a normal life. “The problem is that kids are being exposed to this rhetoric, and then they go to the school and there’s this gay kid,” he said. “And how are they going to treat this gay kid who they’ve been told is trying to destroy their family? They’re going to abuse him.” This statement makes me angry because as we all know rumors spread fast and the gay or lesbian kid is not trying to ruin his/her family, they are trying to make themselves happy.

             These problems may never go away completely, but we can stop and realize what we are doing to people in this situation. You don’t have to think being gay is right, but that doesn’t mean you go around making fun of those people. You can just act normal around them. The more you stop harassing the more suicides will go down.

Have you Always Wanted to be Rememberd in the Future?

The article ‘Footprints in a digital age” by Will Richardson presents being Googled, Richardson says being googled id about when someone enters tour name in Google, that it will be less than impressive.

            Richardson gives a good example of being Googled. He says “the story of Laura Stockman, a 10 year-old from Buffalo, New York.” HE goes on to state “in an effort to honor her grandfather, who died a year before, she decided t do one good deed each day in the run-up to Christmas.” Laura wanted to share her work with the world, Laura and her mom decided to create a blog, “Twenty-five days to make a difference” (http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com). She still shares her work to this day.

            Laura’s blog id a good example of being googled or leaving a footprint in the digital age. As I was reading Richardson’s article I started to realize that I wanted to leave a digital footprint. I don’t want to have to leave a time box in the ground for someone in the future to find. I can just make a profile on Facebook, Myspace, or even Blogger. After I read this I went to go Google and typed in my name I was shocked at what came up. I have leaf a digital footprint have you?

Is there a Reson for going Psycho?

Thursday afternoon, 4 killed in Seattle Shooting. The Article says that a woman in her late 50’s shot 4 people including her self. The 3 dead were 2 girls in their late teens, and a man around the age of 30.

            A 42 year old women, who fled the house was able to talk to the police. “My moms gone crazy” she said as she was running out of the house. When the police got there a man in his 50’s ran into the house. Two more shots were fired and he ran back out, he told the officers that his had shot herself. The 50 year old woman was in serious but stable condition at Harborview Medical Center, hospital. 2 hand guns were recovered from the house. As far as the police know there was no motive for the shooting. 2 witnesses talked to the police. They said “police showed up almost immediately after the shots were fired” said neighbor Bobby Miller. Travis Rowland saw a women run out of the house. “I just heard gunshots. I come out and cops were all over," Miller said. "Just 'bam, bam' and that was it, then screaming.”

This isn’t as important as some issues in the world, but just to think that anyone could just turn around and start shooting is a hard thing to grasp. I have learned from experience. My cousin about 3 years ago went up to his room and came out with a strange look on his face. His brothers didn’t know what to do. He pointed a gun strait at his brother: luckily he missed the heart and shot his arm. He then later ran to the store down the street. And tried to rob the store. The manager had him sit in the car until the cops came. From personal experience it is scary. This makes me think that if this can happen to anyone, what causes someone to resort to shooting?

Google as a study aid

The article “Is Google Making Us Stupid” by Nicholas Carr explains, and describes new technology and what its doing to us.

            Nicholas Carr talks about how we can no longer stay focused on long reading, he gets distracted. When I read this sentence I thought, why did you write an 8 page article, if even you can’t stay focused for more than 4 paragraphs.  Nicholas Carr states that “Google is making us think less.” I have to disagree with that, Google is an easy resource. There are bigger problems in the world that we couldn’t even imagine in the 1900’s. Google is there for resources, and as a research aid. It’s faster than going to the library to find it. The average American teenager has 3 to 4 hours of homework a night. We also have sports and jobs to do. We need more sleep to do more stress-free work. Google is here to help.

        There is always breaking news somewhere in the world. Instead of having to find air time, you can put it on your website, and people will a breaking news notification.  You can also get it on your mobile phone too.  Nicholas goes on to talk about how today we don’t read articles or text books all the way through, we get bored and start skimming.  In this article he says “we have to teach our minds.” I think if we let kids in elementary years have phones, literature wouldn’t be learned as well. Kids at that age are still shaping their minds. People older than 12 know literature and are mature enough o know how to use literature.  Carr shows an example: A writer was loosing his eye site. He got a typewriter and learned how to type with his eyes closed. His friend said his writing was tighter and telegraphic.  I don’t think you can put any personality in writing except opinions.  You can have the same exact paper as another and the only way you could tell the difference is from opinion.

      There are a lot of things I agree and disagree with in this article. Google is good and bad, but it is not making us stupid.